| Identification
of Gene Expression in Zea mays in the Absence of Mop1
Zachary
Pratt
North
Central College
Summer
Mentor: Dr. Jane Dorweiler
Paramutation
is an epigenetic situation that does not fall under typical Mendelian genetics
describing a genetic phenomena in which one gene, the paramutant (inducing
allele), down-regulates the genotype of a second allele, the paramutable
(sensitive) allele, resulting in the expression of the paramutant phenotype.
In Zea mays, paramutation has been studied among alleles of the
Booster
gene, which leads to expression of anthocyanins, giving the Z. mays
a purple color. Previously, this lab has uncovered a gene whose expression
is needed for the control of the Booster paramutable state. Mediator
of paramutation1, Mop1 is essential for the successful paramutant effects
of Booster. In addition, mop1-1 mutant Z. mays there
is delayed flowering and the presence of the tassel seed phenotype.
We believe Mop1 must be involved in the flowering pathway of Z.
mays. Using the Arabidopsis floral pathway as a model, we have
analyzed the expression of genes involved in the flowering pathway of Z.
mays using conventional and real-time RT-PCR. |
